§ MR. ASHMEAD - BARTLETTasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether any representations have been addressed to Her Majesty's Government by any of the Great Powers, or by the Porte, with reference to Lord Dufferin's Mission to Egypt; and, if so, whether he can state their tenour; and, 762 whether a special Turkish Mission is also proceeding to Egypt?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKESir, no representations have been addressed to Her Majesty's Government by any of the Great Powers. Representations have been made by the Porte, but under a misconception, the Porte believing that Lord Dufferin's visit implied some change in the nature of our diplomatic relations with the Porte, and also thinking that there was no precedent for a visit to Egypt by the British Ambassador at Constantinople. It has been explained that there is no change in our diplomatic relations with the Porte, and that there are two precedents—those of Sir Henry Bulwer and Sir Henry Elliot. We know nothing of any special Turkish Mission to Egypt.
§ LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILLasked if the Government would lay upon the Table the Instructions given to Lord Dufferin?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEsaid, that no promise of that kind could be made up to the present moment. Those Instructions would, in all probability, be despatched that night. He should think it probable that they would be included in a future series of Papers.